Eksodos
Hyllus
She did it by her own hand, and no other’s.
Heracles
Ah, no! Before she died by mine as she deserved!
Hyllus
Even your rage would be deflected, if you would learn the whole of it.
Heracles
Your tale begins strangely, but tell me what you mean.
1135
Hyllus
The sum is this: she did wrong, but with a good intent.
Heracles
Did she do a good deed, corrupt traitor, when she killed your father?
Hyllus
No, her plan was to apply a love-charm for your heart, when she saw your new marriage inside the house, but she missed her aim.
Heracles
And what Trachinian is so potent a charmer?
1140
Hyllus
Nessus the Centaur persuaded her long ago to inflame your desire with such a potion.
Heracles
Ah! Ah, misery! I am lost, ruined, ruined! The light of day exists for me no more!
Ah, now I understand the depth of my misfortune! Go, my son! Your father is no more. Summon for me all the crop of your brothers. Summon, too, poor Alcmena, in vain the bedfellow of Zeus, so that
1145
you may hear my final words tell what oracles I know.
1150
Hyllus
I cannot. Your mother is not here. It happens that she keeps her home at Tiryns by the sea. Some of your children she has taken to raise with her there, and others, you will find, are dwelling in Thebes.
But we who are with you, Father, will render at your command all service that is needed.
1155
Heracles
Hear, then, your task. You have come to where you will reveal what sort of man you are, who are called my son.
It was foreshown to me by my father far in the past that I would
perish by no creature that had the breath of life, but by one already dead, a dweller with Hades. So this savage Centaur in death has killed me alive, just as the divine will had been foretold. And I will show you how
1160
later oracles tally with the first and testify to the old prophecy. I wrote them down for myself from the mouth of my father’s oak of many tongues in the grove of the Selli, who dwell on the hills and sleep on the ground. The tree said that, at the time which lives and now is,
1165
my release from the toils laid upon me would be accomplished. And I expected prosperous days, but the meaning, it seems, was only that I would die. For toil comes no more to the dead. Since, then, my son, those words are clearly finding their fulfillment,
1170
you, on your part, must fight on my behalf. You must not delay, and so sharpen my tongue, but give your consent to work with me, like one who has discovered that best of laws, the law of obedience to your father.
1175
Hyllus
Yes, Father—though in coming to this point in our talk
I begin to have some fear—I will obey you in all your decrees.
1180
Heracles
First of all, put your right hand in mine.
Hyllus
With what purpose in mind do you so strongly urge this pledge on me?
Heracles
Give your hand at once—do not disobey me!
Hyllus
Here, I hold it out to you. Nothing will be denied you.
Heracles
Now, swear by the head of Zeus my begetter!
1185
Hyllus
To do what deed? May this also be revealed?
Heracles
To perform for me the task that I shall impose.
Hyllus
I swear it with Zeus for witness of the oath.
Heracles
And pray that, if you break this oath, you may suffer.
